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Shootings near UC Riverside leave 1 dead, 1 injured

March 14, 2013 | 12:10
pm

A Chino Hills man armed with two handguns allegedly opened fire in an apartment complex near UC Riverside on Wednesday night, killing one resident and wounding another “for no apparent reason,’’ authorities said.

Daniel John Jones, 44, was visiting an acquaintance in the apartment complex in the 5300 block of Canyon Crest Drive in Riverside when he entered the first victim’s apartment about 7:20 p.m. and allegedly opened fire, according to Sgt. Dan Russell of the Riverside Police Department.

Jones then walked to a landing between apartment buildings and shot a second person, again “for no apparent reason,’’ Russell said in a statement Thursday.

Jones fled the scene in his car and, moments later, was involved in a minor traffic collision on the Moreno Valley Freeway, near University Avenue, police said.

After Jones pulled over on an offramp, a passing motorist offered to help him. Jones, who thewitness described as intoxicated, then allegedly demanded the other motorist’s car keys and pulled out two handguns. The motorist ran to safety, police said.

A second person then stopped to help Jones but ran back to his car when he saw Jones had two guns, Russell said. Jones allegedly fired one shot, shattering the windshield, and then another shot as the passerby ran down the freeway embankment.

Officers from the Riverside Police Department and California Highway Patrol arrested Jones near the spot of the offramp shootings. Jones was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

The man killed at the apartment complex was identified as James Weatherby, 57, of Riverside, according to the Riverside County coroner’s office. The second shooting victim was treated and released from Riverside Community Hospital.